To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

George Churchman letter to Sarah Rodman, Philadelphia, September 22, 1793

Philada 9 mo 22nd after night 1793
My dear Friend
S.R. Hearing of thy Illness & that it is supposed to be of the Nature of the present prevailing
calamity hath drawn my Mind into very near Sympathy
with thee; and having divers times enquired concerningthy Situation, was inform’d this evening that the Symptoms
more
were thought to be^ favorable towards a recovery, than
what have fallen to the Lot of many who of late have
been suddenly taken off: I thought my mind seem’d rather constrained to endeavour at a little Salutation on Paper, in hopes thou might in the morning(if it should be judged suitable)have it presented ready for perusal when thou are able, if it be the will of Previdence to spare thee: The Sweetness which appear’d as the Covering of the Spirit at several Opportunities in thy Chamber at Newport in the 7th month last year, have been afresh review’d in my memory since I heard of thy present Illness, an the which Savor of thy several little Epistles^ I received since,,(but especially
the last) seemed confirming to me , that the distilling of the Holy Dew had not been withheld since thy recovery of the former illness, which affords a lively nope that such an improvement hath been made in the Space of 14 months past, as to entitle thee to a still larger share of the Blessed presence of him who“speaketh Peace to his People & to his Saints” & never fails to sweeten their bitter Cups & to cause them even to rejoice in the midst of Adversity; being consolated my the incomes of that Love which the Righteous witness to be an invincible & impregnable Armour, not only against the Assaults of their Souls Enemy,when favour’d with bodily Health to move about among their Fellow-Mortals, but when under bodily weakness, & when seemingly they are nearly approaching towards that which putteth an End to the fleshly Tabernacle; my mind whilst writing
seems left without a doubt that in the present visitation
thy Soul hath not been forsaken by him who hath been her beloved; & whose Language to those Plants who thro’ his Blessing hath retained their Greenness, & enervated in a sweet & willing Savour within his Garden enclosed, ever has been & is in their trying moments,“I will ransom thee from Death, & redeem thee from the Power of “the Grave” so that^shall have no Victory:
My mind salutes thee in the affection of a Christian Brother & with the Sympathy that necessarily subsist between fellow-pilgrims in the Heavenly Race, in which I fervently desire thou mayst, & hope thou wilt, be enabled to be of good Cheer,under thy present affliction; & if thou shouldst be favoured with such a Recovery towards health, as to admit of a visit form
such a one as I am, before I leave the City, I should be glad to be inform’d of it; as it would be a disappointment rather Sorrowful if I should be deprived of the Opportunity thro’ thy continued Illness who am thy Sympathizing Friend
George Churchman